alabamagrizzly
Well-known member
Even though the girls finished the weekend 2-3, there was definitely some good signs from the weekend. Of course there was also some things that showed reason for early concern. Bethany Olea and MaKenna McGill were pretty consistent offensively and Fr Michaela Hood showed some great signs of dominance. Once again the theme of giving up big innings after building a lead reared its ugly head and will definitely be something the ladies need to work on going into the conference schedule. We out hit every opponent this weekend in each game except SDSU, which was one of our victories. Overall we had 41 hits and the opposition had 32. Our downfall in our losses was mostly due to our own mistakes. We gave up 20 free passes to the opposition's 12 in all of our losses and allowed 4 homers without hitting any. To put that in perspective, we hit 3 homers alone against Toledo.
Game 1 vs Nebraska-Omaha L 4-7
UM's stars
Offensive-Olea 3-3 1r 1bb
Pitching-Hood 2.1ip 1h 4k 0bb
Defining moment-Omaha's 5 run 4th.
UM jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the 2nd after 5 of 8 batters reached base off 3 singles and 2 walks. Haley Young started strong allowing one hit and striking out two in the first 2.2 innings but after getting the first two batters in the third out, she gave up back to back hits, the second being a homer. In the forth, UM loaded the bases with one out but two fielders choice hits later, Montana's inning ended with only one run and a 4-2 lead. Maddy Stensby then entered for Young and that's when the wheels fell off. Two of Omaha's first four batters had in field pop ups for outs but with two outs and runners on first and second, Omaha's next 5 batters all reached base scoring 5 runs taking a 7-4 lead and wouldn't look back. The inning may not have been as bad with two outs and the bases loaded and UM still up 4-3 but a fielders choice failed to record an out allowing the game to be tied. The flood gates could not be closed then. Michaela Hood relieved Stensby to get the final out of the forth and pitched great for her colligate debut facing 8 batters allowing 1 hit, 0 walks, 0 runs, and striking out four but the ladies offense was inept after getting 8 hits in the first four innings, they could only muster 2 more hits over the last 3 innings and could not get anymore runs.
Game 2 vs South Dakota St W 6-5
UM's stars
Offensive-Colburn 1-4 3rbi 1HR
Pitching-Hood 0.1ip 1k
Defining moment-Colburn's 3 run homer in the bottom of the 6th.
Olea started off with an rbi double in the 1st. Martinez ended the beginning of a SDSU threat in the 2nd with a solo double play. The Griz scored their second run in the bottom of the 2nd of 0 hits and 4 walks. In the top of the 3rd after already giving up an rbi double, Stephenson with two outs gave up a 3 run homer to give SDSU a 4-2 lead. Then again in the 4th Stephenson would give up another rbi double but with a 5-2 lead, SDSU would not score anymore in the game. In the bottom of the 4th after Martinez was able to use her speed to steal second, McGill brought her in with a double to make it 3-5. Then on the bottom of the 6th, Delene Colburn became the hero hitting a two out, three run homer after previously going 0-3 in the game to give the ladies a 6-5 lead. Maddy Stensby who had come in in the 5th and pitched great through the 5th and 6th allowing one hit and striking out 3, then needed help to get the win. After giving up a leadoff single and a sac bunt and a sac fly later, with the leadoff runner now at third, she then hit the next two batters to load the bases. That's when Michaela Hood stepped in to get SDSU's 3B to strike out swinging to end the game and preserve the win.
Game 3 vs Drake L 5-7
UM's stars
Offensive-McGill 2-3 1r 1sb 1bb
Pitching-Hood gs/nd 6ip 3h 10bb 5k 5r 4er
Defining moment-Montana twice loading the bases, in the 3rd with no outs and in the 4th with one out, and coming away empty handed both times.
The Griz struck early against the MVC preseason favorites in the bottom of the first scoring three runs, two of which came off an error by the SS with one out and runners on 2B and 3B. Then in the bottom of the 3rd, UM had the bases loaded with no outs but after a IF pop up and double play where Lyons flies out to the LF who relayed it to the SS and caught Stites out at home trying to tag up, the threat was over. After tossing three hitless innings, Hood, getting her first collegiate start, got a little shaky in the 4th. Four walks, an rbi double, a sac fly and a sac hit allowed Drake to tie the game at 3. In the bottom of the 4th, the Griz would load the bases again with only one out with Stites and Colburn coming up only to end the inning empty handed again after a strike out and a fly out. After another hitless inning in the 5th by Hood, she had to survive a scare in the 6th with allowing the bases to get loaded with two singles and a walk between a couple sac IF hits. She got the last batter to ground out to 2B to escape with no damage done. Then in the bottom of the 6th, UM scored two runs off an error by the SS when Stites hit ground ball with two outs and runners on 2B and 3B. Then in the top of the 7th, Hood lead off the inning with her 9th and 10th walks of the game. Pinkerton then replaced her with the normally reliable Stephenson but the end would not be good. After getting out #1, Stephenson gave up an rbi double, then a walk to load the bases. The next batter hit what should have been a routine DP to Martinez but Colburn's throw was off and two runs would score putting Drake up 6-5. They would add one more for good measure scoring 4 in the inning after only recording 1 hit. Montana would make it interesting in the bottom of the 7th getting the tying runs on 3rd and 2nd with one out but Wardlow would strike out swinging and the Fr Morgan Johnson would PH for her first collegiate ab and go down swinging also.
Game 4 vs UNI(host) L 2-10
UM's stars
Offensive-Stites 2-3 12B 1rbi 1r
Pitching-Driscoll 4.2ip 5h 2er 9r 2bb 1k
Defining moment-UNI's 6 run 5th, all of which were unearned.
UNI was the host team and would be the only team to truly dominate us, even if it was for only one inning. They scored first in the bottom of the 1st after allowing the potential 3rd out to reach on an error, the next batter hit a two run homer. Montana tied it back up in the 3rd with an rbi double by Stites and an rbi single by Olea. In the bottom of the 4th Driscoll got the first two batters to fly out but then gave up a single followed by a homer to give UNI a 4-2 lead. UNI started the bottom of the 5th getting out two of the first three batters but then loaded the bases after a walk and a hit batter. Then UNI hit a hard shot ground ball that bounced off Colburn's glove and scored two runs making it 6-2. Another single loaded the bases again and Stensby came in for Driscoll and her first batter faced went yard for a grand slam to end the game from the 8 run mercy rule in 5 innings.
Game 5 vs Toledo W 8-6
UM's stars
Offensive-Olea 3-4 2r 3rbi 22B 1HR
Pitching-Driscoll/Hood 3.0/0.2ip 4/0h 1/0r 1/0er 3/2k
Defining moment-Montana's back to back homers in the 1st set the tone for the game.
Montana struck early in the top of the 1st with a leadoff triple and back to back homers by Colburn and Olea. Toledo got it all back though in the bottom of the 2nd with a two out single, walk, and then a bases clearing homer. In the top of the third Olea would continue her big day hitting a double to score McGill. Then in the 4th, Lyons led off with a solo homer for the Griz and then the girls got to manufacturing to make it 6-3. After getting McGill on 1st and Fr Petrino on 3rd with two outs, the ladies successful attempted a double steal to score. In the bottom of the 4th, Toledo chased Stephenson of the mound with a one out rbi single. Driscoll came in then and her first batter hit an rbi double but that would be it for the Rockets. Through the next 2.2 innings Driscoll would only allow one single. In the top of the 7th, UM would add some insurance runs with back to back leadoff doubles by Colburn and Olea, scoring one and an rbi single by Saacke scoring Olea. In the bottom of the 7th Toledo would make it interesting. Two doubles and a run in to the inning with only one out would send Driscoll back to the dugout and Pinkerton would send in Hood who was stellar in the reliever roll all weekend. The next two batters would both sit down with strike outs ending any threat Toledo was attempting to put together.
All in all the weekend was encouraging. We know Olea, McGill, and Colburn are gonna be monsters this year. Michaela Hood is gonna be a star in the circle. Stites slow start is a little unsettling after the monster fall season she had but I'm sure she's gonna come around. Stephenson, Stensby, and Driscoll need to find some consistency. If that happens, we may be the best team in the Big Sky this year. Next weekends invite in Santa Clara against the hosts and Seattle should be a much better outing, possibly bringing home 5 more victories.
Game 1 vs Nebraska-Omaha L 4-7
UM's stars
Offensive-Olea 3-3 1r 1bb
Pitching-Hood 2.1ip 1h 4k 0bb
Defining moment-Omaha's 5 run 4th.
UM jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the 2nd after 5 of 8 batters reached base off 3 singles and 2 walks. Haley Young started strong allowing one hit and striking out two in the first 2.2 innings but after getting the first two batters in the third out, she gave up back to back hits, the second being a homer. In the forth, UM loaded the bases with one out but two fielders choice hits later, Montana's inning ended with only one run and a 4-2 lead. Maddy Stensby then entered for Young and that's when the wheels fell off. Two of Omaha's first four batters had in field pop ups for outs but with two outs and runners on first and second, Omaha's next 5 batters all reached base scoring 5 runs taking a 7-4 lead and wouldn't look back. The inning may not have been as bad with two outs and the bases loaded and UM still up 4-3 but a fielders choice failed to record an out allowing the game to be tied. The flood gates could not be closed then. Michaela Hood relieved Stensby to get the final out of the forth and pitched great for her colligate debut facing 8 batters allowing 1 hit, 0 walks, 0 runs, and striking out four but the ladies offense was inept after getting 8 hits in the first four innings, they could only muster 2 more hits over the last 3 innings and could not get anymore runs.
Game 2 vs South Dakota St W 6-5
UM's stars
Offensive-Colburn 1-4 3rbi 1HR
Pitching-Hood 0.1ip 1k
Defining moment-Colburn's 3 run homer in the bottom of the 6th.
Olea started off with an rbi double in the 1st. Martinez ended the beginning of a SDSU threat in the 2nd with a solo double play. The Griz scored their second run in the bottom of the 2nd of 0 hits and 4 walks. In the top of the 3rd after already giving up an rbi double, Stephenson with two outs gave up a 3 run homer to give SDSU a 4-2 lead. Then again in the 4th Stephenson would give up another rbi double but with a 5-2 lead, SDSU would not score anymore in the game. In the bottom of the 4th after Martinez was able to use her speed to steal second, McGill brought her in with a double to make it 3-5. Then on the bottom of the 6th, Delene Colburn became the hero hitting a two out, three run homer after previously going 0-3 in the game to give the ladies a 6-5 lead. Maddy Stensby who had come in in the 5th and pitched great through the 5th and 6th allowing one hit and striking out 3, then needed help to get the win. After giving up a leadoff single and a sac bunt and a sac fly later, with the leadoff runner now at third, she then hit the next two batters to load the bases. That's when Michaela Hood stepped in to get SDSU's 3B to strike out swinging to end the game and preserve the win.
Game 3 vs Drake L 5-7
UM's stars
Offensive-McGill 2-3 1r 1sb 1bb
Pitching-Hood gs/nd 6ip 3h 10bb 5k 5r 4er
Defining moment-Montana twice loading the bases, in the 3rd with no outs and in the 4th with one out, and coming away empty handed both times.
The Griz struck early against the MVC preseason favorites in the bottom of the first scoring three runs, two of which came off an error by the SS with one out and runners on 2B and 3B. Then in the bottom of the 3rd, UM had the bases loaded with no outs but after a IF pop up and double play where Lyons flies out to the LF who relayed it to the SS and caught Stites out at home trying to tag up, the threat was over. After tossing three hitless innings, Hood, getting her first collegiate start, got a little shaky in the 4th. Four walks, an rbi double, a sac fly and a sac hit allowed Drake to tie the game at 3. In the bottom of the 4th, the Griz would load the bases again with only one out with Stites and Colburn coming up only to end the inning empty handed again after a strike out and a fly out. After another hitless inning in the 5th by Hood, she had to survive a scare in the 6th with allowing the bases to get loaded with two singles and a walk between a couple sac IF hits. She got the last batter to ground out to 2B to escape with no damage done. Then in the bottom of the 6th, UM scored two runs off an error by the SS when Stites hit ground ball with two outs and runners on 2B and 3B. Then in the top of the 7th, Hood lead off the inning with her 9th and 10th walks of the game. Pinkerton then replaced her with the normally reliable Stephenson but the end would not be good. After getting out #1, Stephenson gave up an rbi double, then a walk to load the bases. The next batter hit what should have been a routine DP to Martinez but Colburn's throw was off and two runs would score putting Drake up 6-5. They would add one more for good measure scoring 4 in the inning after only recording 1 hit. Montana would make it interesting in the bottom of the 7th getting the tying runs on 3rd and 2nd with one out but Wardlow would strike out swinging and the Fr Morgan Johnson would PH for her first collegiate ab and go down swinging also.
Game 4 vs UNI(host) L 2-10
UM's stars
Offensive-Stites 2-3 12B 1rbi 1r
Pitching-Driscoll 4.2ip 5h 2er 9r 2bb 1k
Defining moment-UNI's 6 run 5th, all of which were unearned.
UNI was the host team and would be the only team to truly dominate us, even if it was for only one inning. They scored first in the bottom of the 1st after allowing the potential 3rd out to reach on an error, the next batter hit a two run homer. Montana tied it back up in the 3rd with an rbi double by Stites and an rbi single by Olea. In the bottom of the 4th Driscoll got the first two batters to fly out but then gave up a single followed by a homer to give UNI a 4-2 lead. UNI started the bottom of the 5th getting out two of the first three batters but then loaded the bases after a walk and a hit batter. Then UNI hit a hard shot ground ball that bounced off Colburn's glove and scored two runs making it 6-2. Another single loaded the bases again and Stensby came in for Driscoll and her first batter faced went yard for a grand slam to end the game from the 8 run mercy rule in 5 innings.
Game 5 vs Toledo W 8-6
UM's stars
Offensive-Olea 3-4 2r 3rbi 22B 1HR
Pitching-Driscoll/Hood 3.0/0.2ip 4/0h 1/0r 1/0er 3/2k
Defining moment-Montana's back to back homers in the 1st set the tone for the game.
Montana struck early in the top of the 1st with a leadoff triple and back to back homers by Colburn and Olea. Toledo got it all back though in the bottom of the 2nd with a two out single, walk, and then a bases clearing homer. In the top of the third Olea would continue her big day hitting a double to score McGill. Then in the 4th, Lyons led off with a solo homer for the Griz and then the girls got to manufacturing to make it 6-3. After getting McGill on 1st and Fr Petrino on 3rd with two outs, the ladies successful attempted a double steal to score. In the bottom of the 4th, Toledo chased Stephenson of the mound with a one out rbi single. Driscoll came in then and her first batter hit an rbi double but that would be it for the Rockets. Through the next 2.2 innings Driscoll would only allow one single. In the top of the 7th, UM would add some insurance runs with back to back leadoff doubles by Colburn and Olea, scoring one and an rbi single by Saacke scoring Olea. In the bottom of the 7th Toledo would make it interesting. Two doubles and a run in to the inning with only one out would send Driscoll back to the dugout and Pinkerton would send in Hood who was stellar in the reliever roll all weekend. The next two batters would both sit down with strike outs ending any threat Toledo was attempting to put together.
All in all the weekend was encouraging. We know Olea, McGill, and Colburn are gonna be monsters this year. Michaela Hood is gonna be a star in the circle. Stites slow start is a little unsettling after the monster fall season she had but I'm sure she's gonna come around. Stephenson, Stensby, and Driscoll need to find some consistency. If that happens, we may be the best team in the Big Sky this year. Next weekends invite in Santa Clara against the hosts and Seattle should be a much better outing, possibly bringing home 5 more victories.